Jennifer Love Hewitt has shared her experiences with grief after her mother passed away in 2012, revealing that the media learned of her death before she did.
The 45-year-old star of Ghost Whisperer recently discussed her upcoming book, Inheriting Magic, which details her healing journey following her mother’s battle with cancer, during an event at a bookshop in Los Angeles, California.
Hewitt’s mother, Patricia Mae Hewitt, passed away from complications related to cancer on June 12, 2012, at the age of 67.
The actress, who was 33 at the time, revealed that she found out about her mother’s death through the media.
“The part that I didn’t put in the book is that actually the press knew that my mom had passed before I did,” Hewitt shared during the event. At that time, she was in Monaco attending the 52nd Monte Carlo TV Festival.
“The flight time with me getting back was so long. It was like a 10-and-a-half-hour flight, so by the time I arrived, everybody knew, and it was such a weird thing for me.
“But then later on, I was like, but everybody’s always known everything about my life kind of before. Even breakups, people have been like, ‘He was cheating on you already.’ Really, people? Like, why didn’t you tell me?”
Twelve years later, Hewitt feels finally ready to share her memories of her mother and how she now creates magic for her family as a mom through her upcoming book, set to be released on December 10.
“I honestly hadn’t ever said that much about my mother after she passed because I didn’t have the words,” she explained to The Hollywood Reporter.
“I just didn’t know what to say, and this felt like the right time to talk about her and say, ‘This is what she left behind.’”
Hewitt also reminisced about how her mother could make even the most ordinary days feel special at home. If I was having a bad day or a broken heart, she would put up Christmas lights because she believed it would lift the mood,” she recalled, laughing at the memory. “If I had bad cramps, there were lights everywhere.”
In June of last year, the Heartbreakers star paid tribute to her mother on the 11th anniversary of her passing.
She honored her memory on Instagram by sharing a throwback photo of herself with Patricia Mae.
“11 years ago my life changed in a moment. We didn’t get to say goodbye but I think it’s because we wouldn’t have known how,” Hewitt wrote in the caption.
“I see you in my kids everyday. I feel you in things I say and smile because I’m more like you than I thought. I honor you by trying to create magic for my family just like you did for us. I love you deeply.
“I’m so grateful you were our mom. This day will always hurt because you were that special. Always and forever mom.”
Hewitt has been married to actor Brian Hallisay since 2013.
They have three children together: a daughter named Autumn, who is 10, and two sons, Atticus, who is nine, and Aiden, who is three.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.